Tactics: Curry Tries To Put Governor On The Defensive

NEW LONDON — As he vied for his party's backing earlier this year, Bill Curry sold himself as the only Democrat who could give the ``Teflon'' governor a run for his money in a head-to-head debate.

Curry lived up to that promise Monday night, putting Republican Gov. John G. Rowland on the defensive about the state's budget troubles, a controversial deal with the Enron Corp., and the plight of cities. For every glass-half-full argument that Rowland made about how far the state had come in eight years, Curry had a glass-half-empty comeback, with studies and statistics to back up his case.

But with a double-digit deficit in the polls and not enough cash to compete with Rowland's advertising blitz, Curry needed to do more than just hold his own. He didn't do what many of his supporters had hoped -- draw blood, in the form of a Rowland blunder or outburst, or present himself in a way that would make for instant chemistry with undecided voters.

What Curry did prove, observers of both parties agreed, is that he can get to Rowland in a way that Democrat Barbara B. Kennelly couldn't, four years ago. Much as the Rowland campaign had tried to portray Curry in recent weeks as a ``fringe'' candidate who lacked a legitimate claim on the governor's mansion, it was clear from the opening moments of the debate that Rowland took his challenger seriously.

Instead of letting the punches roll off him, Rowland engaged in the fight -- a decision that may have lent even more credibility to Curry's campaign.

``The governor was wound a little more tightly than usual,'' said state Rep. Andrew Fleischmann, a West Hartford Democrat. ``He wasn't the normal merry quipster governor that we've seen.''

Rowland, who appeared relaxed but stern, opened the debate by trying to establish himself as a forward-thinking leader, up against a naysaying gadfly.

``I want to make the challenge this evening that we talk positively about our state,'' he said without glancing at Curry, who stood 4 feet away.

But as the hour wore on, Rowland lapsed into some not-so-positive commentary about Curry. He brought up a comment Curry had made years ago on the TV show ``Firing Line'' that the governor claimed had disparaged poor people. When Curry charged that the governor had been less than honest about the state's dealings with Enron, Rowland shot back, ``That is an outrageous statement, questioning my integrity.''

If Rowland seemed to take Curry more seriously than he intended, Curry seemed to pass up several chances to lay out a serious vision for the future, opting instead for some light rhetoric.

``Really, for those of you who remember `Hogan's Heroes,' the governor's sort of the Sgt. Schultz of his own administration,'' Curry said in response to a question about taxes. ``When anything goes wrong, he didn't hear anything, he didn't see anything, he doesn't know anything.''

While both Rowland and Curry tried to appear casual and confident, each candidate had unflattering moments. Rowland, who usually prides himself on an easygoing demeanor, chastised Curry supporters for booing him. Curry, who has tried to shake a sometimes stiff and pedantic persona, lapsed at some points into lecture mode, his finger wagging.

``What I've tried to do here is stay focused on the fundamental business of this state,'' Curry said, after he had gone off on a tangent criticizing the Rowland campaign for spreading misinformation about him in polling calls.

Curry came out strong in presenting an alternative to Rowland's ``urban agenda,'' which he criticized as focusing too much on bricks and mortar and not enough on social problems. Curry argued that Connecticut cities are years behind New England counterparts such as Providence.

While he hammered Rowland hard on ethics, he also expressed frustration with the entire political system, saying it had ``grown so coarse and so corrupt and, most of all, so empty of real choice.'' Rowland tried to use Curry's cynicism to his advantage, harping repeatedly on Curry's ``negative'' attitude.

``I didn't hear one positive thought,'' he said near the end of the debate, in comments that seemed prepared beforehand.

Political leaders on each side said after the debate that their candidate had accomplished exactly what he should have -- and that the opposing camp had fallen into the desired trap.

``It was just more Curry naysaying,'' Republican state Chairman Chris DePino proclaimed.

``It was just more Rowland running from responsibility,'' Democratic state Chairman John Olsen countered.